WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 040413

A new study from US Geological Survey reveals that interactions of climate, soils, shrubs, and a natural nitrogen fertilization process affect regrowth of forests following wildfires in Northern California and Southern Oregon (1); but there will be some changes made at Oregon's Tillamook Air Museum, which services air-tankers during the fire season (2). A debris fire in Chino Valley, Arizona, quickly turned into a 50-acre wildfire when winds picked up (3); and in a followup to an article in yesterday's Wildfire NOTD, the next item contains links to six reports associated with New Mexico Congressman Pearce's press release on wildfires in that state last year (scroll to "Downloads" towards the bottom of the webpage to access these reports) (4). The next article discusses the Colorado Wildfire Tax Credit, which allows property owners to deduct up to $2,500 from their income tax returns for costs associated with wildfire mitigation expenses on their property (5); while State Senator Steve King responds to an editorial by arguing for an aerial firefighting fleet owned and operated by the state (6); this at a time when US Forest Service scientists are finalizing a National Climate Assessment which estimates that climate change will double the wildfire risk in forests by 2050 (7); but the person who accidentally sparked a wildfire in Larimer County last month that burned 2 mi.² of vegetation will not be criminally charged (8). FEMA has given Texas $31.2 million to help compensate for expenses associated with wildfires that ravaged the state in 2011 (9); and volunteer fire departments may be getting more funds through revisions to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (10). Thirteen years after the 83,508-acre Jasper Fire blazed through South Dakota's Black Hills, current conditions may lead to a repeat performance (11). Windy conditions in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley prompted the National Weather Service to issue Red Flag warnings for the region (12); while a Forest Fire Observer from New Jersey comments on Red Flag.conditions announced for much of the state yesterday (13). Fuel reduction burns near South Carolina's Carolina Forest area devastated by a wildfire that destroyed over 100 condominiums aims to reduce the danger of further wildfires (14). A 150-acre wildfire blocked access to Florida's Biscayne National Park (15); while a 365-acre blaze near Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve is now 90% contained (16). A number of gorse and forest fires kept fire crews in Galway, Ireland, busy (17); and a wildfire outside of Wester Ross, Scotland, which has already scorched 16 km² has flared to life again (18). Australian Capital Territory's Climate Change Council discussed the impact of Global Warming on bushfires in that region (19). A Canadian who helped with 2009's Black Saturday bushfires recovery efforts has been awarded Australia’s National Emergency Medal (20); but Victoria's former police commissioner Christine Nixon was once again in the news discussing her ill-considered decision to go out to dinner at the beginning of the Black Saturday bushfires (21); and adding insult to injury, students at Strathewen Primary School were saddened by the theft of two chess pieces donated by a French town after the school was destroyed by the Black Saturday bushfires (22); while Wildfire NOTD subscriber Nathan Maddock, Communications Officer for Bushfire CRC, sent along an update on the progress of the new Bushfire and Natural Hazards branch of their operation (23). With insurance claim payouts up to 18 months away, residents of Coonabarabran, New South Wales, hard-hit by bushfires have a long road to recovery (24); and as the Northern Territory Government reviews the Bushfires Act, Bushfire NT's director is leaving (25). Fire managers plan to burn off 11,000 ha of fuel in South Australia's Belair National Park (26); but a 60-hectare bushfire near Busselton, Western Australia, has been contained (27). And finally, a coach from Tasmania, Australia, who lost his home to a bushfire got an unexpected $40,000 donation from one of his sprinters in the form of the Stawell Gift!

(1) Recovering Soil Fertility after Forest Fires

(2) Air Museum’s press release on moving the Air Museum

(3) Burn pile turns to wildfire, threatens neighbors' homes

(4) Pearce Releases Fire Report

(5) 75 percent of Colorado Homeowners Unaware of Colorado Wildfire Tax Credit

(6) Colorado needs its own aerial firefighting fleet

(7) Feds project climate change will double wildfire risk in forests

(8) Larimer Wildfire Called Accident; No Charges Filed

(9) Feds give Texas $31.2 million for 2011 wildfires

(10) Plan would restore millions of dollars for rural firefighters

(11) Jasper Burn project aimed at fighting future fires while restoring lost forest

(12) Wildfire Warning Thursday

(13) Forest fire officials share tips while under Red Flag Warning

(14) After fire in Carolina Forest, extra steps taken to prevent more brush fires

(15) Wildfire Forces Biscayne National Park to Close

(16) Pumpkin Hill wildfire 90 percent contained as efforts to quench continue

(17) Fire Services Battle Gorse and Forest Fires across West Galway

(18) Wester Ross wildfire flares up again

(19) Climate change could mean more ACT bushfires

(20) Courtenay man wins Australian medal for helping during devastating bushfires

(21) My bushfire meal changed the game: Christine Nixon

(22) Thieves strike again at bushfire school

(23) Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC - second update

(24) Long recovery begins as NSW bushfire season ends

(25) Changes flagged for operation of Bushfires NT

(26) SA fire authorities to start largest autumn burn-off in Belair National Park

(27) Busselton bushfire contained

(28) Burning desire earns Gift